Machine and process for making laminated products



Sept.. 27, 1932. G,

' MACHINE AND PROCESS Filed' H. ELLIS FOR MAKING LAMINATED PRODUCTS A 650,965 h. ELL/5 ATTOENE;

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE HQELLIS, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO THE INS'ULITE COMPANY, 0F

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR MAKING LAMINATED :PRODUCTS Application filed November 15, 1930'. Serial No. 495,914.

This invention relates to improvements in paper machines and has among its objects, to

' provide a machine which will produce thick laminated bodies from pulped material; to reduce the cost of the production of such bodies; to produce bodies which have substantially reduced heat conductive properties; Yto produce bodies having. substantially increased tensile strength with low heat conductivity; to produce such bodies by the use of very much smaller quantities of raw material; to provide means whereby the stock is caused to adhere more strongly to the felt- -ing apron of a paper machine; and to provide a method whereby production is speeded up.

It is well known that much diiiculty is encountered in obtaining strong adherence of a paper sheet to the felting apron when the thickness of the sheet exceeds substantially the material drop from the apron. Moreover, if the machine is successful in carrying a sheet thicker than that mentioned,` it is found that the product is not of uniform density. It has heretofore to obtain a thick, laminated, formed body of uniform density, and it has heretofore been impossible to produce such a sheet economically. By the use of the invention herein, laminated bodies of a thickness from 0.02 of one inch to one and one-half inches, and of uniform density, can be produced, and the bodies have greater tensile strength, reduced heat conductivity, and are formed at a thirty-three per cent saving in raw material, and at one-third of the usual lcost.'

Features of the invention include the method of producing a thick, laminated sheet, the product per se and the construction of the apparatus.

The drawing somewhat diagrammatically represents a paper machine embodying-the present invention. Numeral l' generally indicates the body of the machine. In the present devicethere have been illustrated four head boxes, each with its felting cylinder. rlihe head boxes are respectively indicated by the numerals 2, 3 and 4, and the vat over-dow w boxes are respectively indicated by the nui The 0.02 of one inch, and is quite common to have been impossible -pulped-sheetmerals 5, 6 and 7. The vats are indicated by numerals 8, 9, 10 and 11, and the felting cylinders, by numerals 14, 15, 16 and 17. The foregoing structures may be of the ordinary types.- A press roll is indicated at 20 and the felting screen, or apron, is `indicated at 21, and is supported byrollers". 22, 23 and 24.

roller 24 cooperates with the .press cyl- `inder 2O to press moisture out of the laminated product, and this roll 24 is adjustable with reference to the roll 20.

As before stated, it is diilicult to prevent lthe material from dropping from the apron 21 when its thickness is increased over the ligure before mentioned. In order that this drop 0H of the layer may be prevented, l arrange a suction box above the vats and above the apron, the box being of substantially the same width as the apron. Along the lower edges ofthe box are arranged strips of suitable material indicated at 41 against which the apron engages to substantially form a seal between the upper surface o'f the 'apron and the lower marginal surfaces of the suction box 40.

The box is floatingly or adj ustably mounted by means, not shown, and upon it are mounted the couch or doctor rolls indicated at 25. These rolls engage the upper surface of the felfcing apron 21 to maintain a predetermined relation between the apron and the felting cylinders. Suitable slats, indicated at 28,'maintain a level condition of the .lower run of the apron 21 between the couch rolls. rlhis box is arranged substantially as shown in the drawing, and one end lies over the first felting roll 14, and the opposite end extends a substantial distance beyond the last felting roll 17, and over the press roll 20. A suction conduit 45 communicates with the box a's at 46 and suitable suction apparatus or pump diagrammatically indicated at 4T creates a suction in the box 40, which suction acts through the porous or foraminous apron 21 causing the paper layers 50 to adhere to ,j one another and to the under side of the apron as shown. l

It will benoted that the roll 20 cooperates with the apron at a point opposite the roll 24 and, therefore, the apron lies between these no resultant injury or fracture, or at least a weakening or pulling apart of the laminations. The straight-away delivery-feed herein described is, therefore, an important feature.

The adjustments of the box 40 are made diametrically with respect to the axes of the felting cylinders and press roll 20. The supporting elements for the rolls 22, 23 and 24 are all mounted on element 40 to move in unison therewith, and meansnot shown, is provided for separately adjusting the roll 24.

The results accruing from the practice of this invention are important. There is about a thirty-three per cent saving in raw material; eighty-iive per cent'increase in tensile strength of the product; a reduction in cost by one-third; and a substantial speeding up of production.

Judging by the substantial decrease in the density of the laminated lfelted product; its increased tensile strength; and by its decreased conductivity, itis believed the present method causes the bers to lie in a substantially horizontal plane, as distinguished from an arrangement of the ibers at angles to this plane.

is about four times faster. There is a saving of twenty-five to fifty per cent in density, which means. less material with increased insulating ability. There is thirty-three per cent saving in raw material. The heat conductivity of the laminated product is reduced by twenty per cent and there is an eighty-five per cent increase in tensile strength. The material no longer drops fromthe felting screen. when it is more than 0.02 of an inch thick and a laminated body can, by this method, be produced which is at least one and onefourth inches thick.

I claim as my invention:

1. A paper machine having a felting cylinder, and a felting apron operatively related thereto, andmeans for creating suction for causing the material to adhere to the felting f apron, substantially throughout the entire area of that portion of the apron which is opposed to the felting cylinder.

2. A pa er machine including felting cyl- .j inders, a elting apron having a run operatively related to thecyliiiders, means associated with said run and adapted to create suction therethrough substantially throughout theentire area of that portion of the apron which is opposed to the cylinders.

3. A paper machine including felting cylinders and an apron having a run operatively arranged above the cylinders, a. suction By the use of this invention, the production I substantially the entire area of the run, and

means for creating a suction in the chamber.

4. A paper machine including felting cylinders having an apronv having a run operatively related to the cylinders, a suction chamber having an open side the margins of which substantially sealingly engage that side of the run opposite the cylinders, said chamber substantially overlying the entire area of the run, and means for creating a suction in the chamber.

5. A process for producing a laminated body from sheets of `pulped material on a l machine which includes a plurality of felting cylinders and a felting apron operatively related to the cylinders, which consists `iii creating a suction during formation of the sheets in a manner to cause the sheets to adhere more strongly to the apron and to one another, substantially throughout the entire area of that portion of the apron which is v directly opposed to the cylinders.

6. A paper machine including felting cylinders, a felting apron having a straight run operatively related to the cylinders, a suction chamber having an open side cooperative with said straight run, and of an area substantially equal thereto, slats arran ed in the chamber for .preventing motion o I,the 'run away from tle' cylinders, and for holding the run inflat condition, and means for creating suction in the chamber.

7. A` paper machine including a pair of felting cylinders, a felting apron having a straight run operatively related to the pylinders, a couch roll for each cylinder having its rotative axis substantially vertically above the rotative axis of the corresponding cyliny der, a suction chamber having an open side of an area substantially equal to that of the run and slats arranged at the upper side of the run for assisting in holding it in flat condition,

means for creating a suction in the chamber,

and means cooperating with the apron to press the felted product.

8'. A paper machine including feltin cylinders, a suction box having an opensi e opposed to the cylinders,la felting apron supported on the box and having oiie run-inter posed between the cylinders and the box, and means for creatin a suction iii the box.

9. A paper macflyiine including feltin cylinders, a suction box having an open si e opthe cylinders while suction is being created.

10. A paper machine including'v feltin cylinders, a suction boxhaving an open si e opposed tothe c linders, a felting apron supported on the ox and having one run interposed between the cylinder and the box, means for creating a suction in the box, and) a roll cooperative with the run immediately eyond the box in direction of fabrication to receive the felted sheet and press it and deliver it after pressing without substantial bending. 11. A paper machine including felting cylinders, suction box having an open side opposed to `he c linders, a felting apron supported on the ox and having one run interposed between the cylinder and the box, means for creating a suction in the box, the felting apron being mounted on rollers, and a roll cooperative with the run adjacent one of said rollers, and inmediately beyond the box in direction of fabrication to receive the felted sheet and press it. In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of November, 1930.

GEORGE H. ELLIS. 

